Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 20, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery

    The Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery enables ServiceNow customers to identify and inventory Amazon RDS database snapshots within their AWS cloud environment. This discovery is part of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application, which detects AWS resources and populates relevant data into both CMDB and non-CMDB tables. Proper configuration and prerequisites must be met to ensure accurate and up-to-date discovery results.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The RDS DB Snapshot pattern is disabled by default and must be enabled. Starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0, pattern activation or deactivation is no longer treated as a customization, allowing automatic updates while preserving the last active state after upgrades.
    • AWS Discovery Prerequisites: Customers must verify AWS discovery prerequisites and ensure relevant resources are not included in the Resource Inclusion List to avoid duplicate discovery.
    • GovCloud Support: Discovery of AWS GovCloud (US) accounts requires configuring the discovery schedule with the appropriate datacenter URL for AWS service accounts.
    • Data Storage: Discovered RDS DB snapshot information is stored both in non-CMDB tables (for extended inventory details) and in CMDB tables (for core configuration management). Customers can access non-CMDB AWS tables via the ServiceNow configuration interface.
    • Tag Collection: The pattern collects AWS tags associated with snapshots and stores them in the Key Value [cmdbkeyvalue] table for enhanced asset context.

    Data Populated and Relationships

    Non-CMDB Table: AWS Relational Database Services - DB Snapshot [cmdbawsrelationaldatabaseservicesdbsnapshot]

    • Stores detailed snapshot metadata such as ARN, name, availability zone, status, related DB instance, engine type and version.

    CMDB Table: Cloud Resource [cmdbcicmpresource]

    • Contains core resource information including ARN, name, resource type (set as AWS::RDS::DBSnapshot), install and operational status.

    CI Relationships: The pattern automatically creates configuration item relationships, linking the RDS DB Snapshot resource to the hosting AWS datacenter and referencing the cloud resource record.

    Practical Benefits

    By enabling this discovery pattern, ServiceNow customers gain comprehensive visibility into their Amazon RDS DB snapshots, ensuring accurate CMDB records for improved cloud asset management, compliance, and operational insight. The inclusion of tag data further enhances filtering and reporting capabilities. Proper pattern activation and adherence to AWS discovery prerequisites are essential to avoid duplicate data and maintain discovery accuracy.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds AWS services on your cloud environment. Discovering some of these resources may require updating to the latest version of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store.

    Pattern-based discovery and mapping requirements

    Verify the AWS discovery prerequisites
    For more information, see the prerequisites section in AWS discovery using patterns.
    Remove resources from the Resource Inclusion List table
    Verify that the relevant resource isn't listed in the Resource Inclusion List [sa_cloud_inventory_resource_whitelist] table to avoid duplicate discovery. For more information on removing resources from the Resource Inclusion List, see AWS Resource Inventory discovery with Patterns.
    Enable the relevant pattern
    The pattern for this service is disabled by default. Starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0, activating or deactivating a pattern won't be considered a customization, and it will continue to receive updates. Patterns that were previously activated or deactivated will reset to the latest predefined version after upgrading while retaining the last active field value. For more information on enabling patterns, see Activate a disabled pattern.
    Configure the Discovery schedule to support GovCloud
    Discovering AWS GovCloud (US) accounts requires using a datacenter URL when setting up an AWS service account. For more information, see Create AWS service accounts.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in both CMDB and non-CMDB tables.

    Data stored in non-CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the non-CMDB table when running the Amazon AWS - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    You can review the non-CMDB AWS tables by navigating to All > Configuration > AWS. You can also search the navigation filter for the specific pattern name.

    Table 1. AWS Relational Database Services - DB Snapshot [cmdb_aws_relational_database_services_db_snapshot]
    Field Description
    Object Id [object_id] The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) that uniquely identifies the database snapshot.
    Name [name] A unique identifier for the RDS database snapshot.
    Availability Zone [availability_zone] The availability zone where the database snapshot was created.
    Status [status] The current state or progress of the database snapshot.
    Configuration Item [configuration_item] References the Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] table.
    DB Instance Identifier [db_instance_identifier] The identifier of the RDS DB instance associated with the snapshot.
    Engine [engine] The database engine used for the snapshot. For example: MySQL or PostgreSQL.
    Engine Version [engine_version] The version of the database engine for the snapshot.

    Data stored in CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the CMDB when running the Amazon AWS - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]
    Field Description
    Object ID [object_id] The ARN that uniquely identifies the database snapshot.
    Name [name] A unique identifier for the RDS database snapshot.
    Resource type [resource_type] Type of resource. The value is set to AWS::RDS::DBSnapshot.
    Install Status [install_status] Install status of the resource. Default value is Installed.
    Operational status [operational_status] Operational status of the resource. Default value is Operational.

    CI relationships

    The Amazon AWS - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern creates these relationships to support Amazon RDS DB Snapshot discovery.

    CI Relationship CI
    Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] Hosted on::Hosts AWS Datacenter [cmdb_ci_aws_datacenter]
    AWS Relational Database Services - DB Snapshot [cmdb_aws_relational_database_services_db_snapshot] References Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]

    AWS tag discovery

    The pattern collects tags and populates them in the Key Value [cmdb_key_value] table.
    Table 3. Key Value [cmdb_key_value]
    Field Description
    Key [key] Tag name.
    Value [value] Tag value.